The Taoist shaman masters reasoned that in order to bind to the outside world, they had to first master their own inner universe.
They felt a surge of energy through their bodies, which they called chi. They found that two parental meridians circulate beyond the elemental system in addition to the organ-meridians. They have direct communication with spirit and interaction with the rest of the meridian network via the central energy centers (similar to yoga chakras).
The yang companion, the Governor Vessel or Channel, connects the energy centers of the back; the yin meridian, the Conception Vessel or Functional Channel, connects the energy centers of the front. When they're all linked, the Microcosmic Orbit, the body's main energy circuit, is created.
Microcosmic Orbit Meditation (Basic)
The Microcosmic Orbit meditation strengthens the mind's ability to direct, control, conserve, recycle, and transform energy through the body.
- Touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth just below your front teeth to join the Governor Channel and the Functional Channel to form the Microcosmic Orbit.
- Start with your eyes and encourage your mind to follow the energy as it flows down the front of your body through your tongue, neck, stomach, and navel, then up the tailbone and spine to your head. Allow the mind to drift with the energy as it circulates through the Microcosmic Orbit.
Practice of Fusing the Five Elements
Fusion of the Five Elements is the first step of Taoist Internal Alchemy, and it emphasizes on the association and fusion of all five elements and their correspondences, as well as their transformation into a harmonious whole of high-quality energy. This mechanism transforms, purifies, condenses, and combines the essence of life-force energy present in the lungs, glands, and senses with the universal force. The new source of energy that arises as a result of this mechanism has the potential to transform the human body for the better.
- The Governor Channel binds the back energy centers with the Functional Channel at the roof of the mouth to form the Microcosmic Orbit .
- The Functional Channel binds the front energy centers with the Governor Channel to complete the Microcosmic Orbit .
The toxic feelings associated with each organ and element are taken out of the organs and converted into a neutralized force during the Fusion practice, effectively “balancing the weather” of the body's total energies.
This de-energized energy can be combined with positive energies found in the organs to provide pure life-force energy. “Refined red sand transforms into silver,” as the Taoists suggest.
This suggests that fusing all of the various types of emotional energy together would result in a harmonious whole. Unrefined, "unfused" energy, on the other hand, would have the appearance of sand, fragmented and unable to hold together.
You may also want to read more about Shamanism here.
Also, be sure to check out our section on Religion.
